Battery hand lamp



0&9, 1930. I B. SCHUL-TE 1;7s4,114

' BATTERY HA ND LAMP I Filed June 19. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN 5Y3Dec. 9, 1930. w. B. SCHULTE BATTERY HAND LAMP Filed June 19. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 3 .J W 33 a W f5. (ail/1% Patented Dec. 9, 1%130 WALTER3B. SCHULTE, F MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 BURGE$S BATTERY COMPAN'Y, 0F MADISON, WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN" BATTERY HAND LAMP Application filed June 19,

My invention relates to a battery hand lamp which consists of a dry cellbattery with a cup at the top thereof, the cup containing anincandescent bulb in a removable holder so constructed that the act offlipping the cover open and shut with the thumb or finger renders thehand lamp operative and inoperative respectively.

This invention is an improvement upon an earlier invention of John S.Zook, an application for which was filed in the Patent ()ifice onOctober 10, 1927 under Serial Number 225,045 (now Patent No. 1,701,093,granted February 5, 1929). It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved battery hand lamp which is cheap to construct. It isa further object of the invention to provide a hand lamp in which thelamp bulb and the dry cells may be renewed J0 independently uponexhaustion. Further objects and advantages will be made clear b thefollowing detailed description, which is to be taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the battery hand lamp with the coverin solid lines for the operative position, and in dotted lines for theinoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the incandescent bulb holder with thecover in the open or operative position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cap of the bulbv holder with thecover in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective'view of the metallic Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of an insulating member which is contained in the removable holdertogether with a looped spring wire which is associated with theinsulating member as Willbe explained hereinafter;

Fig. 6 is a pers ective view of an alternative form of bulb older;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the insulating member to be used withthe form of holder shown in Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views of two modifications of the preferred formof my invention. In my novel construction, I enclose a bat- 1929.fierial No. %86,501.

tery consisting of one or more dry cells, 1 and 2, electricallyconnected, as by connector 3, in a suitable carton 4, which may be ofpaper and which projects above the top of the dry cells. In theprojecting portion of the carton I place a cup 5, preferably formed ofmetal which is electrically connected to the negative can, as bysoldering, as at 6. An opening 7, in the bottom of the cup 5 allows theother pole, preferably thepositive 8, to be exposed. The positive polemust be insulated from the cup, as by a sheet of insulating paper 9. Theside edges of opening 7 are bent up, as at 10. At the end of the cupopposite to opening 7 wings 11 are formed as by punching in the sides ofthe cup 5, the purpose of these wings to be explained hereinafter. Asmall'lug 12 is formed in the bot tom of the cup at the end remote fromopening 7, as by stamping the metal. 7 An incandescent bulb 13 ismounted in a removable holder, one form of which is illustrated in Fig.2. An oval-shaped insulating member 14 of a material such as bakelite ormicarta, as shown in Fig. 5, is slotted, as at 15, one end of the slotbeing enlarged and provided with screw threads for the reception of thebulb 13. The slot- 15 is sufficiently narrow to provide a three pointbearin for bulb 13. The under side of the member 14 is 30 recessedadjacent the end opposite the enlargement of slot 15, as shown at 16.Grooves 17 are provided in the sides of insulating member 14.

A metallic oval cap 19, (see Fig. pro- 5 vided with hinged cover 20 fitstightly over the upper portlon of insulating member 14. The engagementof the two should be such that relative movement is practicallyimpossible. Spring wire 21 is adapted to traverse e0 grooves 17 and itsretention therein is strengthened by locating the longitudinal portionsof the grooves high enough in the sides of insulating member 14 that thelongitudinal portions of the wire are squeezed between the sides of cap19 and insulating member 14. Both the free and the looped ends of springwire 21 extend beyond the grooves in insulating member 14 and are bentalmost at right angles in the longitudinal direction of member 14 wherethey emerge from grooves 17.

Hinged cover 20 is cup-shaped to accom modate incandescent bulb 13 andis provided with an extension 22, which functions as a contact or switchmember. The sides of extension 22 are notched to form cams 23. At thehinge, which is located at the junction of extension 22 with cover 20,extension 22 is looped into a double fold, as shown in Fig. 1. One loopof the fold contains the hinge rod 24. In order to impart greaterrigidity to extension 22 a drop of solder 25 ma be deposited so as tojoin the second loop ot the fold to the main portion of cover 20, asillustrated in Fig. 1. To further stifi'en extension 22 and guardagainst'its becoming bent out of the proper shape with use, a groove'orchannel 26 may be rolled or stampedtherein. The uppermost outer portionof cover 20 is provided with corrugations 27 or a small punched lug orsimilar protrusion to assist in Its easy operation by the thumb orfinger.

The bulb holder cooperates with the battery having the cup 5 mounted asdescribed by slipping spring wire 21 underneath wings 11 and over lug 12so that the spring wire 21 presses firmly upon the bottom of cup-5 andthe base of bulb 13 contacts with the terminal 8 of the battery as shownin Fig. 1. The recess 16 perm ts insulating member 14 to assume itsproper position without interfering with wings 11. The pressure of wings11 upon spring wire 21 retains the holder firmly in place and insuresgood contact between the base of bulb 13 and exposed pole 8 of thebattery when the said bulb13 is screwed down into its socket.

Since the cup 5 is electrically connected to one pole of the battery at6, electrical connection is made with the hinged cover 20 through springwire 21, which has its looped end pressed firmly upon the bottom of cup5 and has its free ends making a wiping contact with cams 23 of cover20. The lower edges of cap 19 are in contact with the upper edge of cup5 and electrical connection is also established from cup 5 through cap19 and hinge rod 24 to cover 20.

hen the cover 20 is in the operative position, as shown in solid linesin Fig. 1, the extension 22 presses against the screw thread of bulb 13making a wiping contact with the bulb and completing the electricalcircuit. The cover 20 may be plated or polished upon the inside to forman effective reflector for the bulb 13 when in the operative position.To render the hand lamp inoperative. the cover 20 is flipped shut withthe thumb or finger. In this position, as shown in the dotted lines ofFig. 1, the extension 22 is out of contact with the screw thread of bulb13 and the electrical circuit is broken. Longitudinal slot 15 ininsulating member 14 permits the free movement of extension 22 back andforth from operative to inoperative position and vice versa. The bulb 13may be positioned slightly to one side of the longitudinal center lineof insulating member 14 so' that each time cover 20 is snapped openextension 22 will tend to screw bulb 13 down more tightly againstpositive pole 8.

In the inoperative position spring wire 21 continues to exert upwardpressure upon cams 23 and there is practically no possibility of thecover being accidentally opened. Nor is there any practical ossibihty ofelectrical connection being esta lished between cover 20 and the screwterminal of bulb 13. The above. mentioned pressure of spring wire 21upon cams 23 causes the cover 20 to assume the open and closed positionswith a snap by reason of the fact that greater depression of wire 21and, hence, greater pressure occurs at the intermediate position. In theinoperative position, cover 20 forms a very effective protection againstinjury to the bulb in case the hand lamp is struck against a rigidobject.

For the purpose of the present invention the sides of opening 7 need notbe bent up as shown at 10. Such construction is used, however, in theform of handlamp covered by the before-mentioned Zook Patent, and it isdesired that the cup 5 be adapted for use with both forms ofconstruction.

In a modification of my improved hand lamp, a slightly different form ofbulb holder is used. The insulating member is provided with two pairs ofgrooves 28 and 29, one adjacent each end (see Figs. 6 and7). Spring wirebail 30 is bailed to the insulating member at its open end, traversesgrooves 28, and performs the function of maintaining the bulb holder inposition within cup 5. Spring wire 31 traverses grooves 29 and with itslooped ends pressing upon the bottom of cup 5 and its free ends engagingcams 32 of the hinged cover, constitutes the electricalconnection'between the cup 5 and the hinged cover. Extension 22 formsthe contact or switch member. The method of operation of thismodification is the same as that of my preferred form.

As shown in Fig. 8, the metallic cup 5 may be dispensed with and thebattery and paper carton 4 encased in a metal, heavy paper, leather orimitation leather carton 33. The bulb holder fits into the u per part ofthe carton 33 in such a manner tiiat the lower edges of cap 19 coincidewith the upper edges of carton 33. The bulb holder is similar to thatdescribed in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. In this form of theinvention, the position of the separable head, comprising theincandescent bulb holder assembly, may be reversed within the carton 4,in which event the end terminal of bulb 13 will contact with the bottomor negative pole of cell 1 and the spring wire 31 will contact with thepositive pole 8 of cell2. The cells 1 and 2 are insulated from eachother by means of suitable insulating strip, 34.v r

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further modification of my invention. Inthis construction one or more cells 35, positioned'preferably one aboveanother in tubular form, are connected in series and the whole encasedin a paper or other suitably insulating carton 36 with an opening 37arranged in its bottom portion. Two metal cartons 38 and 39, one of themhaving its bottom recessed and punched to form a cup 40 similar to thecup 5, are fitted over carton 36 and their open ends joined, as bywelding at 41. The carton 36 is so arranged that opening 37 in itsbottom portion coincidesW-ith the opening in the bottom of cup 40. Theincandescent bulb holders heretofore described are adapted to be mountedin cup 40 in the manner heretofore described and the end terminal of thelamp bulb is adapted to contact with the negative pole 42 of the uppercell 35 while electrical connection is established from the positivepole 43 of the lower cell 35 to cup 40 through the metal cartons 38 and39. In this form of construction it is necessary to discard the metalcarton with the cup at one end upon exhaustion of the cells.

I claim:

1. A battery hand lamp comprising a carton, a dry cell battery arrangedtherein, said carton extending above the top of said battery, a cuparranged in the upper part of said carton, said cup being electricallyconnected to one pole of said battery and having an opening for exposingthe other pole and being insulated from said second pole, a.

holder fitting into said cup, said holder comprising an insulatingmember, a cap fitting over said insulating member, a looped spring wiresqueezed between said insulating member and said cap, said insulatingmember having a longitudinal slot and a recess at the end opposite saidopening in said on an incandescent bulb removably mounted in one end ofsaid longitudinal slot and arranged to make contact with said exposedpole, and a cover hinged to said cap, said cover having notched cams andan extension at its hinged end, said spring wire being adapted tomaintain said holder firmly in position within said cup, to press firmlyupon the bottom of said metallic cup and to have its free ends 00-.

operate with said notched cams to maintain electrical connection betweensaid hinged cover and said cup and to exert spring pressure upon saidcams to cause said cover to assume the open and closed positions with asnap, said extensions being provided with a channel and being adapted tomake and break contact with said bulb when said cover is in the open andclosed positions respectively.

2. A battery hand lamp comprising a carton, a dry cell battery arrangedtherein, said carton extending above the top of said bats tery, a cuparranged in the. upper part of said carton, said cup being electricallyconnected to one pole of said battery and having an opening for exposingthe other pole and being insulated from said second pole, a

said spring wire being adapted to maintain said holder firmly inposition within said cup, and to maintain electrical connection betweensaid. hinged cover and said cup, said cover being adapted to make andbreak contact with said bulb when in the open and closed positionsrespectively.

3. A battery hand lamp comprising a carton, a dry cell battery arrangedtherein, said carton extending above the top of said battery, a cuparranged in the upper part of said carton, said cup being electricallyconnected to one pole of said batter and having an opening for exposingthe other pole and being insulated from said other pole, a. bulb holderin said cup, an incandescent bulb removably mounted in said older andarranged to make electrical nnection with said exposed pole, a coverhinged over said holder, and' a looped spring wire carried by saidholder and having its looped end pressing firmly upon the bottom of saidcup and having its free ends cooperate with said hinged cover tomaintain electrical connection between said cover and said cup, saidcover being adapted to make and break contac't with said ulb when in theoperative and inoperative positions respectively.

4;. In a battery hand lamp, a metallic carton, a battery arrangedtherein, said carton extending above the top of said battery and beinginsulated therefrom, a bulb holder fitting into the top of said carton,and an incandescent bulb mounted in said holder and arranged to makecontact with one pole of said battery, said bulb holder comprising ancandescent bulb mounted in saidholder and arranged to makecontactwith'one pole of said battery, said bulb holder comprising an insulatingmember, a metallic cap fitting over said insulating member, a coverhinged to said cap, and a spring wire held in place by said insulatingmember, said spring wire being adapted to maintain electrical connectionbetween said cover and the other pole of said battery, said cover beingadapted to make and break contact with said incandescent bulb.

6. In a battery hand lamp, a battery, a cup above the top of saidbattery, a bulb holder in said cup, said holder comprising an insulatingmember, an incandescent bulb mounted therein, a cap fitting over the topof said insulating member, a cover hinged to said cap, a wire bailfastened to said insulating member, and a looped spring wire clampedbetween said insulating member and said cap. 7. In a battery hand lamp,a dry cell bat tery, a cup arranged at one end of said battery, said cupbeing electrically connected to one pole of said battery and having anWALTER B. SCHULTE.

opening for ex osing the other pole and being insulated 1 0m said secondpole, an incandescent bulb holder mounted in said cup, and a coverhinged over said holder, said cover being adapted to be arranged in anopen or closed position, and being of such shape as to form a reflectorand a closure for said hand lamp when in the open and closed positionsrespectively.

8. In a battery hand lamp, a battery, a cup above the top of saidbattery, a bulb holder of insulating material in said cup, anincandescent bulb in said holder, a cover hinged over said holder, andmeans comprising a looped spring wire carried by said bulb holder toretain said holder firmly in position within said cup and to maintainelectrical connection between said cup and said cover, said cover beingadapted to make and break electrical contact with said incandescentbulb.

9. A separable incandescent bulb holder for a battery hand lampcomprising an insulating member, a cap fitting tightly over the to ofsaid insulating member, a cover hinge to said cap, and a. looped springwire carried by said insulating member, and ada ted to complete anelectric circuit from sai battery to a bulb arranged in said insu latingmember. i

10. In a battery hand lamp, a battery, a cup mounted over said battery,said cu being electrically connected to one pole 0 said battery andhaving an opening in the bottom to expose the second pole of thebattery, an incandescent bulb mounted in said cup and having its baseterminal in contact with the exposed pole of said battery, and a cover.hinged over said bulb, said cover being in ing in electrical engagementwith one pole

